Drying apparatus



Dec. 15, 1931.

Filed March 8, 1928 Mi v i? w ii fin x 5 m N 4 I 1 Q 1% Q; L 1% v a N lA a N ig a m Q a 4 Q I Q 1 .WWW g v Q :smvhwww': a 1% a a? w a Sag 4 g gg SQ a N, E v Q WITNESSES R INVEN TOR:

WZI/Z mm 7? Savage,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED sTaTes WILLIAM T. SAVAGE, F PHILADELPHIA,1ENITSYIlZzVAIil'IAQ ASSTG Ll'OR TO, PHILADEL PHIA METAL DRYING FORMCOMPANYQDF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,' A COR- 7 POBATION OF DELAWAREmarine ArrARATUs Application filed March 8,

This invention relates to apparatus for drying textile manufactures,particularly knitted wares such as hosiery. More'specifically speakingmy invention is concerned withdrying apparatus of the type employinghollow drying forms through which a fluent heating medium is circulated.With use of such apparatus heretofore, considerable difficulty has beenexperienced in maintaining the forms uniformly heated due to trappage ofaire. g. in the toe pockets of hosiery forms-wf0h attendant checking ofthe flow of the fluent heating medium at the designated regions andconsequent uneven drying of'the stockings; The foregoing is especiallytrue in instances Where attempts have been made to employ hot water asthe heat} ing medium.

The ob ect OI my invention is to overcome the drawbacks pointed out, andthis desideratum I aim to attain through provision of simple andreliable means capable of continuously and automatically relieving andcarrying ofif trapped air without loss of heat ing medium from theapparatus.

A further aim of my invention is to enable in connection with dryingapparatus of the character referred to, use either ofsteam or hot wateras heating agents.

Still further objects and attendant advantages will become apparent fromthe detailed description which follows when taken in connection with thedrawing which shows more or less diagrammatically, a drying apparatusconvenientl embodying my invention, certain portions being broken awayand in section to better illustrate underlying details. 1

As herein delineated, the apparatus coin prises a multiplicity ofvertically-arranged drying forms 5-in the present instance forhosiery-disposed in serial" relation and secured to common horizontal,manifold 6 which is supported at an elevation above the floor, with aslight slope for drainage toward its right hand end, bysuitabletransverse standards 7. The forms 5 are of hollow configurationand internally sub-divided by a medial longitudinal partion 8 into upand down flow passages 9,10 for a fluent heating medium in the directionindicated by the ar- 1928. Serial no, 260,151.

rows. The manifold 6 serves to receive "the flow ofthe-heating mediumafter it has coursed through the forms? via'ports 11 com munica-ti'ngwith the passages of thelatterr The supply flowof the heating mediumjis1 I;

conducted through/a manifold pipe12that extends longitudinally throughthe manifold 6, said manifoldpipe having nipples 13 extending up intothe passages 9 of the indi vidual forms. Atits inner end, the flow pipe12 is closed by acap 15,'while 'at its outer end it is connected tomains 17, 18 leading from sources of steam respectively at hi 'h and lowpressures, which, in'pra'ctice, may it: in the neighborhoods of'5 to20and 0 to 5 pounds, suitable control valves 19,20 being interposed in thepipingfor selectivity as be- I tween the two pre ssure s*in' accordancewith the material embodied in the stockings being dried. Alsoconnectinginto themanifold pipe 12 is a standpipe 21 that extendsdownward from an overheadeXpa-nsiontank 22. A water feed pipe 23communicating with a suitable source of supply (not shown) ,1 en terstheside of the tank 22 near the top. Water flow into the tank isautomatically controlled by a float 25 governing avalve-26 fitted to theterminal end of the pipe 23 within said tank; Provisions are also madeto take care of'overfiow, in the form of a pipe 27 leading from the sideof the tank 22 above the water feed pipe 23. Ahand'valve28 near thelower end of the stand pipe 21 servesas a means to shutoff the waterfromthe manifold pipe 12 when steam is used as the heating medium. I J Ig I At its rear end, the inflow manifold 57 is provided with a dropfitting 30', which terminates in a sediment trap 31 at a level below theconnection witha return pipe 32. Interposed in a branch 33 of the returnpipe32 is a motor driven pu mp' 3 which delivers into a horizontalconduit 35.

This conduit 35 2 leads tothe coil 36 Off! water heater 37; and

said coil is in-turn connected 'at'itsftop to the manifold pipe 12through abra'nch38, Any

suitable medium may be employed to heat the 2 i 17 under control of avalve 40. An extension ll of the return line'32 terminating in a steamtrap 42, has a hand valve 43 interposed in 1t .at a po'int'slightly inadvance of a bottom drain connection .44 from the jacket of the heater37, said connection 41- being fitted with a. check valve 45 permittingdownward flow only. After being freed of impurities in the trap42,.thesteam is conducted back to'the source from whence it originally came bya pipe 4:6. 7

As a means to automatically control the temperature of the water whenthe latter is employed as a heating medium, I equip the apparatus with athermostatic device which may be of any standard construction, the

3 same being conventionally represented at 4'7 and shown as lying withinthe conduit previously mentioned. This thermostatic de- 7 and preventcirculation of the fluent heating medium around the top of thepartition8. As shown, the several tubes extend downward through the manifold 6 toa common main 51 under-lyingsaid manifold .The main 51 slopes downwardslightly toward the left in the illustration, and has vertical drainbranch 52 with a hand valve 53 that is normally kept closed. From theright hand or highest end of themain 51 leads an air and vapor relieftube 55, the same enteringthe' stand pipe 21 near the lower end andextending upward-axially within it as at 55a. 3 For a purpose later onexplained, the horizontal portion of the relief tube 55 is somewhatinclinedsupwardly toward the left in the illustration, and itste'rminalend55b is open at a level above the water in the expansion tank 22. Fordrainage ofthe apparatus in its en tirety, I have shown a crossconnection 56 with a valve 57 between the pipe dl'and the downwardbranch 52 of the main 51.

lVitlr use of water as the heating medium,

the operation of :the apparatus is as follows :As a pre-requisite, thevalves 19 and 20 in the steam mains 17, 18 are of course closed; and thevalve 28 in the stand pipe 21 and thevalves 53-and 57 controlling flowinto the drain 52 opened.- Vater is .thereby permitted to flow'into themanifold pipe v12 I r from the tank'22, the supply in the latter beingconstantly replenished the while through automatic a'ction of the floatvalve 26. With assurance that the system is filled wvith water(determinable through discharge of water throughthe drain 52), thevalves 53 and 57 are shut-off, thereby establishing a closed circulatorysystem which includes the manifold pipe 12, the forms 5, the manifold 6,the return pipe 32, thepump 3%,the conduit 35 and the water heater 37.The valve 40 is thereupon opened to admit steam to the jacket of thewater heater 37, and the pump 34 set in motion to induce circulation ofthe water throughthe system as indicated by the full line arrows in theillustration. When once heated, the water is maintained atthe propertemperature through automatic regulation of steam flow to the heater 37by U the valve 48 under control of the thermostatic device 47 which maybe setto function at the desired degree with aid of a thermometer, suchasshown at 58 in the conduit 35, as a guide. The air releasedincidentallyto the heating of the water will naturally findits way tothe toe tips of the forms 5 wherefrom it is forced, under pressure ofthe circulating water, into the ends of the release tubes 50 within saidforms. The air, as well as water carried along with in the tubes 50, isconducted to the main 51, and from thence, via the relieftube 55, intothe expansion tank 22 above the level of'the water inthe latter.

3 In this way it will be seen that the relief of trapped air is effectedautomatically without loss of waterfrom the system. Evaporation takingplace over long p'eriodsof operation with water is compensated for byautomatic action of the floatpcontrolled valve 26 in the water feed main23 which permits flow of additional water into the expansion tank 22asneeded from time to time,

The operation of the apparatus with steam is moreor less identical asregards circula-.

tion through the manifolds 6, 12,theforn1s 5, and the return piping 32.However, to prepare the apparatus ,for' steam operation the procedure isas follows :-the valve28 in the stand pipe 21 is first shut 0E, and thevalves 53 and 57 opened to permit drainage of the water remaining in thesystem through the pipe'52. l/Vith this accomplished, the

pump 34- is stopped and the valves 53, 57 are closed, and then eitherthe valve 19 or the valve 20 opened for supply of steam from the mains17 18 -depending on the pressure desired or required for a particulargrade or quality of goods to be dried. The COUISQOf the steam throughthe apparatus beyond the return pipe 32 is in accordance with the dottedline arrows in the drawing. Relief of air under steam operation takesplace, as before, through the tubes 50 into the main 51 and from thenceto the water tank 22, the vapor carried along with the. air beingtherefore also released in said tank and its condensation conserved forre-use' in the system. In I this connection itwillbe noted that any water precipitated in the relief tube is obliged,

come filled with water as will occur from time to time, it may bereadily drained by opening the valve 53 for a few moments.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

1. Drying apparatus of the character described comprising a multiplicityof hollow dryers with coordinating flow and return piping to constitutea closed circulating system for a fluent heating-medium, and means forcontinuously and automatically conducting away trapped air from thehighest'point within the dryers without wastage from the system of anyheating medium carried along with such air.

2. Drying apparatus of the character described comprising a multiplicityof hollow dryers with coordinating common flow and return pipingconstituting a closed circulatory system, connections permittingselective use either of steam or hot water as the heating medium in thesystem, and means for continuously and automatically conducting awaytrapped air from the highest point within the dryers without wastagefrom the system of heating medium carried along with such air.

3. Drying apparatus of the character described comprising a multiplicityof hollow dryers with coordinated flow and return piping constituting aclosed circulatory system, connections permitting selective use eitherof steam or hot water as the heating medium in the system, a stand pipetopped by an expansion tank connecting into the piping aforesaid, andmeans for continuously and automatically conducting trapped air and anyheating medium carried along with it, from the highest point within thedryers for release at a point above the water level in the expansiontank and conservation of the heating medium for re-use.

4:. Drying apparatus of the character described comprising amultiplictiy of hollow dryers with coordinated flow and return piping toconstitute a closed system for circulation of water through the forms,and means to continuously conduct away trapped air from the highestpoint within the dryers and discharging it within the system so, as tore tain within the system any water carried along with such air.

5. Drying apparatus of the character described comprising a multiplicityof hollow dryers with coordinated common flow and return piping toconstitute a closed circulatory system for hot water, a stand pipe withan expansion tank at the top connecting into said piping; and air reliefmeans including open-ended tubes leading from the highest pointwithinthe individual dryers, a common main into which thetubes dischargeand .a tube extendingv from said: .main and delivering at a'point above'the water level in the expansion tank aforesaid with conservation in thesystem' of any wat'ercarriedalong I with the trapped air.

6. Drying apparatus of the characterdescribed comprising amultiplicityof hollow dryers with coordinating fiowand return-piping to constituteaclosedcirculating system for a fluent heating medium, and means forcontinuously and automatically conducting away trapped air from withinthe dryers, said means comprising tubes extending with in the dryer andhaving an air-receiving end opening into substantially the highest pointwithin the respective dryers and an air-discharging end within thesystem and from which any heating medium carried along with the air isdischarged into the system.

7 Drying apparatus ofthe character de-- scribed comprising amultiplicity of hollow dryers with coordinating flow and return pipingto constitute a closed system for. a fluent heating medium, a waterreservoir and connections therefrom to the circulating system, and meansfor conducting away trapped air from. the highest point within therespective dryers; said means comprising tubes opening intosubstantially the highest points within the respective dryers andaconduit connected with said tubes and opening abovethe water level ofthe water reservoir.

8. Drying apparatus of the character described comprising a multiplicityof hollow dryers with coordinating flow and return piping to constitutea closed system for a fluent heating medium, a water reservoir andconnections therefrom to the circulating system, and means forconducting away trapped air from the highest point within the respectivedryers said means comprising tubes opening into substantially thehighest points within the respective dryers, a drain line with whichsaid tubes connect for carrying ofi liquid and a conduit connected withsaid drain pipe for carrying off air and vapor. Y

9. Drying apparatus of the character de-' scribed comprising a hollowdryerhaving a.

closed end and provided with a partition exj tending toward said closedend, and coordinated flow and return piping constitutlng a g closedsystem for circulation of a fluid heating medium, and a tube extendingwithin the dryer and beyond the partition and having an air-receivingend opening into the dryer at a point substantiallycloser than the endof the partition to the closed "end of the dryer.

Drying apparatus of the character described comprising a multiplicity ofhollow I dryers with coordinating flow of return pip-- ing to constituteaclosed circulating system for a fluent heating medium, an inclineddrain Pipe extending beneath thedryers, tubes expipe;

tending Within the' dryers andhaving air-receivi'ng ends opening intosubstantially the highest points Within the dryers and communicatingWith said drain pipe, and a vapor relief tube extending upward from saiddrain In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my nameatPhiladelphia, Pennsyl- Vania, this 3rd day of March, 1928. r i vWVILLIAM T.. SAVAGE.

